Download HIV/AIDS - Research!America

#13
in a series
Investment in research
saves lives and money
} HIV/AIDS
facts about:
Today:
“If you think research is expensive, try disease.”
- Mary Lasker 1901-1994
*
:: Approximately 1.2 million Americans are living with HIV/AIDS.
*
:: There are approximately 50,000 new HIV infections every year in the U.S.
:: More than 1.8 million Americans have become infected with HIV since the epidemic
*
began in 1981, and an estimated 659,000 have died.
:: An estimated 35.3 million people are living with HIV/AIDS worldwide, and more
**
than 36 million people have died since the first case was reported in 1981.
:: African-Americans and Latino-Americans are disproportionately affected by new
HIV infections. In 2010, the rate of new HIV infections was eight times higher
among African-Americans than whites, while Latino-Americans had a rate three
***
times that of whites.
:: In 2011, approximately 70% of Americans with HIV did not have their virus under
control. Of this subset, 66% had been diagnosed but were not engaged in regular
HIV care, 20% did not yet know they were HIV-positive, 10% did not achieve viral
suppression with antiretroviral treatment, and 4% were engaged in care but not
*
prescribed antiviral treatment.
The Cost:
:: In FY 2014, U.S. federal funding to combat HIV/AIDS here and abroad and assist
***
those affected by the disease totaled $29.5 billion.
:: The lifetime medical costs of treating a person with HIV are estimated at
*
approximately $402,000.
*CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION <WWW.CDC.GOV> 2014.
** WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION <WWW.WHO.INT> 2014.
*** THE HENRY J. KAISER FAMILY FOUNDATION <WWW.KFF.ORG> 2014.
SAVING LIVES
SAVING MONEY
HOW RESEARCH SAVES LIVES:
:: The public- and private-sector funded research that led to the development of
Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) revolutionized the battle against
HIV/AIDS; access to the medications – coupled with strict adherence – transforms
the virus from a virtual death sentence to a manageable chronic condition.
:: Since the introduction of HAART, life expectancy for Americans infected with HIV
**
has increased from 36.1 to 51.4 years.
:: Research has demonstrated that Truvada, a drug for the treatment of certain
strains of HIV/AIDS, can also be effective in reducing the rate of infection when
‡
used prophylactically.
HOW RESEARCH SAVES MONEY:
:: Underscoring the importance of regular testing, the CD4 test, an early screening
tool developed at the Stanford University School of Medicine and the Palo Alto
Veterans Health Care System, has been shown to help patients live longer and
+
reduce the cost of their care.
:: A study funded by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
concluded that HIV positive patients who start treatment earlier in the disease
progression will save up to $64,000 in direct health care costs in their lifetime,
++
compared to those who start treatment later.
* CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION <WWW.CDC.GOV> 2013.
** SAMJI H, ET. AL. PLoS ONE 2013. 8(12): e81355.
‡CHOOPANYA, K. ET. AL. LANCET 2013. 381(9883):2083-1090.
+ STANFORD UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE <WWW.MED.STANFORD.EDU> 2012.
++FLEISHMAN, JOHN A. ET. AL. MED CARE 2010. 48(12):1071-1079.
What is HIV/AIDS?
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a viral infection that
can lead to acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).
Infection with HIV gradually destroys the body’s immune
cells. AIDS occurs when the immune system can no longer
provide protection from infections, cancers and other
diseases. Treatment slows the destruction of the body’s
immune system, but does not eliminate HIV. There is no
vaccine and
no cure.
Patient:
NAME:
AGE:
CONDITION:
Maria Davis
54
AIDS
Diagnosed with HIV at age 35
Maria Davis was pursuing a childhood dream to model and
work in entertainment when she was diagnosed with HIV in
1995. At 35-years-old, having already collaborated with artists
like Jay-Z and Puff Daddy, Davis’ new challenge was survival.
At that time, medications, such as AZT, only temporarily
prolonged life for HIV/AIDS patients, and stigma and cultural
barriers prevented many from seeking much-needed help.
In 1998, Davis began taking medication, and since, through
her 30s, 40s and now 50s, she has been a first-hand observer of
the progress of HIV/AIDS treatments. Davis, who has
participated in a trial for a new medication, now takes a
manageable six pills per day – supplemented with vitamins –
and her journey continues to inspire others to live
meaningfully and find inner beauty and love.
Davis, in addition to still promoting music and comedy twice
a month, currently encourages people living with HIV/AIDS to
talk about their treatment with their provider and speaks at
schools and universities, educating about the realities of
prevention, transmission, testing and stigma. She’s also
completed two New York marathons.
There is no cure for HIV/AIDS; however, medical research
has played a critical role in reducing the risk of transmission
and has led to new drugs that have transformed HIV/AIDS from
a fatal to a chronic illness for millions worldwide. The National
Institutes of Health commits 10 percent of its budget to AIDS
research and has been at the forefront of significant scientific
advances. But there are critical challenges ahead.
PHOTO CREDIT: amfAR/ KEVIN TACHMAN
}
facts about:
HIV/ AIDS
Hope for the Future:
:: Public- and private-sector research is underway to test drug
combinations that could dramatically reduce life-threatening
complications for individuals with both HIV and other chronic
*
conditions such as kidney disease.
:: Development of a safe and effective vaccine to prevent HIV infection is
a top priority for the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Working
closely with academia, private sector innovators such as Geovax, Inc.,
and government/business/philanthropic collaborations or product
development partnerships (PDPs) such as the International AIDS
Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), NIH is helping to fund promising vaccine
**
research that could ultimately eradicate HIV/AIDS.
* KRISTOFF, JAN. ET. AL. J CLIN INVEST 2014.124(6):2802-2806.
** NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE <WWW.NIAD.NIH.GOV> 2014.
National Poll:
Officials Aren’t Paying
Enough Attention to Deadly
Diseases
Agree
Not sure
Do you agree or disagree
that elected officials in
Washington are paying
enough attention to
combating the many
deadly diseases that afflict
Americans?
28%
Disagree
20%
53%
SOURCE: A RESEARCH!AMERICA POLL OF U.S. ADULTS CONDUCTED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ZOGBY
ANALYTICS, WITH SUPPORT FROM THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HEMATOLOGY, IN NOVEMBER 2013.
The Bottom Line:
Research has led to prevention strategies, diagnostics and medicines that have given millions of Americans and others across the globe with
HIV/AIDS a chance to live longer and healthier lives. A strengthened commitment to research is needed to develop an effective vaccine and
cure to end this deadly and costly disease.
Research!America
1101 King Street, Suite 520
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
703.739.2577
www.researchamerica.org
[email protected]
The Albert and Mary Lasker Foundation is a founding
partner in this series of fact sheets. www.laskerfoundation.org